TuTu Cute

I don't remember how I stumbled across them in the first place, but suddenly I found myself looking up no-sew tutu tutorials all over the web. My inner girly-girl screamed, "Ive got to make one for my little princess!"

Look at her...I think she thought the whole thing was a bit ridiculous. Which of course it is. I mean, a 6 week old baby in a tutu? Before I had a baby girl, I would have said, "C'mon, is that really necessary?"

Yup, it really is.

But, don't worry. I haven't totally pinked-out! Grady keeps me balanced.
Is it really necessary to eat the dirt and throw it at my camera?

Yup, it really is.

Real Photos

I guess "pictures in my mind" aren't enough for some people - *wink*

Mimi is missing her grands, so here are a few recent shots.

Grady loves his "choo-choo" table and chairs. Thank you, Grandpa! Check out his chalk talents, too!

And, he is just smitten with his sister. He loves her toes and smothers her in soft little kisses.

She just takes it all in.

Anna Layne

Welcome, Anna Layne!

Born April 22 at 2:39 p.m. (37 wks+2days)
7 lbs.13 oz., 19.5 inches

There Already??

I found out this morning that I'm already 2 centimeters dilated and 70% effaced (file under TMI?)

Since she is estimated to be about 7 lbs. already, this was news I wanted to her going in, and it's what I've been expecting based on my experience with Grady (see post - Are We There Yet?)

All along, I've thought, "she'll be here by the last week of April." My guess has been April 25, Matt's birthday. I was told April 21 is the most popular birthday in the world - so maybe we'll even hit that!

Though, I realize that nature works in her own miraculous ways and I could be in this "early" stage for weeks, I am grateful that the process has started!

I must admit, though, that I'm more anxious about labor/delivery this time. I think it was easier being clueless about what to expect. I guess I feel prepared and scared at the same time.

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by. We don't have a bedroom set-up for her yet, but I did get the bassinet ready by our bed and as far as I'm concerned, we're as ready as we need to be!

Of course, I'd like a week or two to take care of more little details. I'm continuing to work right up to the time I absolutely need to leave, and then I'm looking forward to my crazy, sleepless summer off!!

Easter

Brunch with Grammie "Mimi" & Nelson.

Dinner with Grandma & Grandpa "Moma"

Here She is...

...Miss America!

We had our 30 week ultrasound today. You should be able to make out her little face in these photos. Baby Girl is a real cutie. Looking good and healthy. She's already 3lb.13 oz. Doc estimates 8.5 lb. if born at 40 weeks!
Oh, and the U/S tech said she could see lots of hair!!

I can't believe that she'll be here in 2 months. You know how fast that goes? Of course, we'll see how I'm feeling when she doubles in size and I can't barely get up!

I had 5 days off from work this past weekend and I was right into nesting mode, while Matt and Grady were right in the midst of a nasty cold, which of course settles in me as I return to work. But seeing our little girl today really gave me a lift I needed!

Tops on my Baby-Coming To-Do List:
1. Name her.

2. Figure out where she'll sleep (or any of us) when she moves out of our room.

3. Get Grady potty trained and sleeping in toddler bed! sure, sure...

I Love...

...when Grady holds my hand and walks with me

...cooing and cuddling in my arms

...his laugh when you catch him after he initiates a chase

...his "ski jump" stance when he wants to be funny

...the wild arm moves he uses to dance

...that he has started saying, "pweeessss, pweeeessss" when he wants something

...the kisses he lands on my knee, or arm, or especially his little sister in my belly - mmmwah!

...his soft way of saying, "nigh nigh" at nap and bedtime

Sugar and Spice & Everything Nice

It's a GIRL!!

We had our 20 week ultrasound today and "met" our little (13 oz.) girl! (As soon as I get a new scanner, I'll share a pic.)

I was so excited for this appointment...not so much to find out what we're having, but just to see our baby! She looks good and healthy and on target for around May 11.

Now we'll get serious about playing the name game...and figuring out our living quarters. A bit of shuffling needs to happen.

What a great "early Christmas gift"this has been. I originally wanted to keep it a secret for even a day to reveal at Christmas, but we just couldn't keep it back.

15 Months

Grady's got just under a dozen teeth now.
The better to chomp my food with. He's a good eater!


He's also getting around fast! He took off walking on his own
last week after a few weeks of holding your hand or the walls to get around.


Here he is at Julie's making us a Thanksgiving card!
The girls taught him how to use, not eat, crayons.

Baby #2 (as it is still known until December 23 when the
ultrasound should reveal girl or boy) is growing fast, too.
We're 16 weeks along and there is no mistaking that I'm expecting.

I love hearing the heartbeat at the doctor's office. I wish I could
take that little monitor home and "check in" on my baby whenever
I wanted to.

Hope everyone had an abundant Thanksgiving filled with joy,
sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie!

We're Growing!

That's right - mommy's growing, baby's growing, our family is growing!! "Baby #2" will be here in May!

Will Grady have a sister or a brother? We don't know yet, but we'll be sure to let you know when we find out.

Love & Hugs,
Jen, Matt, Grady & Baby

Fun to be One

We celebrated Grady's First Birthday a couple weeks ago (I know I'm dragging with posts)

He had fun all week long - first Grandpa stopped by on Sunday eager to give Grady his gift - -

A John Deere wagon! I'm loving taking him for walks in the wagon, beats the stroller. He likes to go fast and hit bumps!

We celebrated with Grampa, Deb, Aurora & Devlyn on Grady's Birthday. Grampa and Dev were heading off to Alaska, so it worked great to have them over on his birthday.

I poured too much milk and ran out of powdered sugar to even it out, so we had glazed cupcakes - which worked perfectly - just enough chocolate mess! My camera battery died after a few photos, but Aurora took some precious photos - I'll be copying those.



Here's Papa giving him his gift - -

His first 4-Wheeler, John Deere, too! There's all these cool buttons, but Grady hits the "Song" button over and over and smiles every time. We've hooked up a leash and pull him around the yard - it's the cutest thing ever!


Then, Julie invited me down to the house on Thursday to have cupcakes with Grady and the kids in the front yard - good messy brownies!



To top it all off, we had a BBQ on Saturday!

I resurrected the duck-mold from the Groom's Cake at our wedding and made Grady's first birthday cake on a frosted brownie base (I used to ask for this on my birthdays - yummy!)


By now, Grady was an ol' pro at eating sweet goodies!












Armond captured these last 2 shots - how about that sugar crash!

THANK YOU to everyone for celebrating this milestone with us, and for the fun gifts!

Soak it Up

I took this picture 6 days before Grady was born (and it happens to be the outfit I was wearing when my water broke) Looks like he was about to fall out from under the shirt!

Incredible what happens in a year!

I didn't expect to be so emotional at the eve of his first birthday.

It's like my body has hormonal memory or something! I tear up just looking at him.

He's zips around on his hands and knees now and tries to climb every chance he gets. He'll walk holding one hand and look up at you with a big proud smile. Yesterday I turned around and he was standing up next to my knee holding on with one hand. I was dumbfounded. It seems like all I've said all year is, "Where's that little baby we brought home?"

Dad. Dog. Duck. These are his favorite words. Go figure. He surprises us by copying other words we say, but then he clams up and won't repeat it.

He really surprised Dad & I yesterday by cursing me when I tried to adjust him in his swing. I swear - he swore! I can't repeat it here because that wouldn't be proper, (OK, it was G.D.I. and he said it with gusto!) Dad & I both stopped and looked at each other and Dad said, 'did you hear that?" Then we both just cracked up!

Oh, we're in for a ride!

So, tomorrow is his first birthday! Time is such a strange creature. Right now it is easy to say, "that went sooo fast!" But, during each stage there was this blissful sense of time standing still. Holding him for the first time, his first smile, the sweet sound of his laughter, the first word, watching him discover something new...all of those moments where nothing else in the world mattered and time paused if even for an instant.

Yeeeeee!

Thankful Thursday

On Monday (mom's birthday!) my friend Renee's baby boy, Riley Steven, was born at just 31 weeks, weighing only 3 lb. 8 oz. He is breathing on his own and they are both well. When I heard the news, I cried - for joy in their health and the excitement of a new baby, and tears for what she went through. I thought, too, of my friends and family who have gone through these trials before. While I was compassionate then, I must admit a greater understanding now that I've given birth. I am thankful for Grady's relatively easy delivery and his good health.

Photos, Ferry, & Fun

Absolutely love this shot!

Serious Grady.

Silly Grady.

Ma & I decided to take the Ferry to Target Saturday.
Grady loved it on the top deck. His first boat ride!

Grady enjoyed flirtin' with the ladies at Renee's baby shower.

Note the size difference - she's one, he's 9 months!

Hair's the Thing

I love getting photos of Grady in my e-mail from Julie! It's such a nice surprise. I'm usually the one behind the camera and it's so fun to see pics someone else takes and to get a little look in on his day. Thank you, Julie! Here are some recent faves -

"Raisin' the roof!" Guy likes to dance.

You may be asking, "Where does he get that spiky head of hair?"

From Papa?..........

Nope.

Must be from his Mama....

Bingo!

Matt gave him a little haircut over the weekend. When I find my camera, I'll add the cute bathtime hairdos and a shot of his new hair :)